Welcome to the Historic Port of Waterford, NY

The rich history of the Empire State is a story inextricably linked to New York’s extraordinary and enduring maritime heritage. Four hundred years ago, Henry Hudson’s voyage of discovery marked the beginning of an era of waterborne exploration, trade, and development which continues today.

The story of Fulton and the emergence of steam power, the building and economic predominance of the Erie Canal, the development of New York Harbor into the crossroads of global commerce, and the heyday of the Barge Canal is perhaps the most compelling maritime industrial tale in American history. It is a tale in which the tiny port of Waterford, New York and the surrounding area figures prominently, and that the Waterford Maritime Historical Society is committed to telling.